The UK is moving into a cooler and more unsettled spell after Sunday’s brief rise in temperatures, with rain and strong winds affecting northern areas early in the week. A series of weather fronts will cross the country before conditions become drier for many places on Wednesday and Thursday.
The change follows a mostly dry weekend but a notably wet previous week. According to the Environment Agency, last week was the wettest in England since early February. Temperatures will also fall from Sunday’s levels, when south-east England came close to 29C, although parts of the country will remain relatively mild for the time of year.
Cooler Air Spreads South as Rain and Strong Winds Affect Northern Areas
Falling pressure and a change in wind direction will bring fresher conditions on Monday as a weather front moves south-eastwards across the UK. The front will mainly consist of cloud and scattered showers as it crosses England and Wales, with sunny intervals developing behind it.
Temperatures in south-east England are expected to reach 25C, but cooler and less humid air will follow the front. Further north, a separate and heavier area of rain will develop across Northern Ireland during the morning before reaching Scotland and Cumbria later in the day.
Strong south-westerly winds will accompany that rain, while temperatures in Scotland and Northern Ireland will be held to about 17C. According to BBC Weather, temperatures across many areas on Monday will still be above the seasonal average despite the arrival of fresher air.
Conditions will become particularly windy across northern Britain on Tuesday as a deep area of low pressure remains north-west of Scotland. Gusts of 50 to 60mph are possible across northern and western Scotland.
Such wind speeds are not unusual for these areas at this time of year, though disruption could occur if stronger winds are channelled through Scotland’s central lowlands. Frequent showers are also expected across northern parts of the UK. Further south, overnight rain will remain over south-east England during Tuesday morning before clearing. The rainfall is not expected to be particularly heavy, while much of England and all of Wales remain in drought.
Higher Pressure Brings a Quieter Midweek Before Showers Return
Conditions are forecast to become more settled from Wednesday as the area of low pressure moves into the North Sea. Winds will remain strong for a time along the east coast, but rising pressure will bring lighter winds and mainly dry weather to much of the UK.
Sunshine is also expected in places during the middle of the week. The quieter spell will mark a temporary change from the rain and strong winds affecting northern areas at the start of the week.
Showers are forecast to return to western parts of the UK on Thursday before moving towards eastern areas and fading during Friday. According to BBC Weather, temperatures from midweek will be close to the seasonal average, with the highest values reaching 22C in south-east England.
The pattern follows a sharp contrast between recent conditions in Britain and the heat recorded farther south in Europe. Spain reached 45.7C in Huelva last week, its highest temperature of the year so far. Across the UK, the immediate shift will instead be towards fresher air, a windy start in the north and a calmer period for much of the country by midweek.
